Although I’m not very big on New Year’s resolutions, I stepped into 2015 with one bookish goal: to read more YA this year. Normally, about 60% of the books I read are adult novels, with crime and contemporary fiction in the majority. This year, however, I decided to take a break from thrillers and add a bit more Young Adult fiction to my TBR list. (If you’re a fellow crime reader, fear not. I’m still very much reading and reviewing crime – I just want to add a bit more variety to my to-be-read pile.)

I kicked off February with a UKYA book I’ve been meaning to read since last year, T. S. Easton’s Boys Don’t Knit, and I absolutely loved it. I’m currently reading the second book in the series, An English Boy in New York, which is just as hilarious as the first one was, if not more so. I’m really hoping that March will follow the same pattern and I’ll discover some more amazing YA reads.

But before we step into the first week of March, I wanted to share with you ten UKYA books I’m really excited about, and which I’m hoping to read in the next couple of months.

The Art of Being Normal by Lisa Williamson

The Art of Being Normal is THE book all my friends and Twitter followers are talking about this year – and I’ve heard amazing things about it. I have a feeling it’s going to be a truly special and unique read, and I can’t wait to finally pick it up.

Seven Days by Eve Ainsworth

This one reminds me a little bit of Erin Jade Lange’s books (Butter and Dead Ends), both of which deal with bullying and which I absolutely loved. What makes Seven Days even more interesting – for me, at least – is that it’s told from the perspective of both the bully and the bullied. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where we see things through the bully’s eyes, so I’m really curious how Eve did it. I also like the idea of hearing the same story from two different perspectives and it’s such an intriguing premise. I have a good feeling about this one!

The Lost and the Found by Cat Clarke

I adore Cat Clarke’s writing. Undone was unputdownable and is literally one of the best YA books I’ve read. Ever. It’s been a while since I read it but there are certain parts of the book I remember as vividly as if it was yesterday. So adding The Lost and the Found to my TBR was a no-brainer. And, as an added treat, it comes out a week before my birthday. May can’t come soon enough!

Finding Audrey by Sophie Kinsella

Sophie Kinsella has been one of my favourite authors since my early teens and I’ve read (and re-read) all the books she’s written so far. If that wasn’t enough to convince me that I NEED to read Finding Audrey, what makes it even more exciting is that it’s Sophie’s first YA book. I’ve loved what she did with her adult books, so I’m really looking forward to seeing how she writes for a younger audience.

Nell is twenty-six and has never been to Paris. She has never even been on a weekend away with her boyfriend. Everyone knows she is just not the adventurous type.

But, when her boyfriend doesn’t turn up for their romantic mini-break, Nell has the chance to prove everyone wrong.

Alone in Paris, Nell meets the mysterious moped-riding Fabien and his group of carefree friends. Could this turn out to be the most adventurous weekend of her life?

Although I’ve read hundreds of amazing reviews of Jojo Moyes’s books and everyone I know adores her stories, I’ve never had the chance – or the time – to pick them up myself. So when Paris for One was released as part of the Quick Reads initiative, I jumped at the opportunity and decided to give it a go.

With only 95 pages, Moyes’s novel is a super quick read. Just like the rest of the Quick Reads titles, Paris for One is aimed at those who, for whatever reason, find reading a difficult and daunting task. However, it doesn’t mean that you, as a bookworm who can easily devour a book in a day, won’t enjoy it. In fact, it’s perfect for days when you’re running errands and you know there will be some waiting time here and there. Whether you need to pop into the post office, do the school run or you’re about to go on a quick lunch break, it’s a perfect companion. I loved the fact that I could read during my lunch break without having to carry a 400-page long hardback with me, like I did the week before.

Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, click here.

Hello everyone! How are you? How has your weekend been so far? I had a lazy day yesterday (although I did manage to go to the library and book shopping, so it wasn’t that lazy) but I’m dedicating today to blogging and catching up on all my reviews*. I have at least 5 reviews to write and I want to schedule some other posts for the next couple of weeks as well. I’ll be away at the beginning of March, visiting my family, so it’d be nice to have something scheduled for that week.

I had an amazing week book-wise. All the books I was waiting for arrived last week, so I wasn’t expecting anything else to turn up… but somehow I ended up with six new books. Oops!

This time last week I started Boys Don’t Knit by T.S. Easton and fell in love with Ben’s story within a few pages. I would’ve read it in one sitting if I didn’t have other things to do – it’s HILARIOUS! (My full review will be posted soon) So I popped into our local library yesterday and borrowed the sequel, An English Boy in New York, which I’m starting today. Can’t wait!

Unspeakable is a giveaway win from Jana at That Artsy Reader Girl, and another book I’ve heard amazing things about. Thank you, Jana and Atom!

On 5 February 2015, six very special books hit the shelves of bookshops, libraries and supermarkets around the UK. The six 2015 Galaxy Quick Reads titles were written by renowned authors (such as Jojo Moyes and Sophie Hannah) and aim to help adults rediscover the pleasure of reading. Since I think it’s a brilliant initiative and it deserves more recognition, I wanted to dedicate today’s post to these books and talk about why I love them so much – and why you will too.

What are Quick Reads, you ask?

Priced just £1, Galaxy Quick Reads titles are just like regular books. However, they are shorter and much easier to tackle for adults who are either less confident in their reading skills or over time have become lapsed readers.

What is the aim of this initiative?

Founded in 2006, the Quick Reads initiative was launched to help the UK’s one in six adults of working age who have difficulty reading, as well as the one in three adults who do not read for pleasure.

People’s reasons for not reading are varied but are often based in fear. Some people say they find books scary and intimidating, thinking they are ‘not for them’ or that books are difficult or boring. Quick Reads’ aim is to challenge these beliefs and demonstrate that books and reading can be for everyone.

Why Quick Reads are perfect for everyone

About two weeks ago, a small parcel landed on my doorstep. I received one of the newest QR titles, Paris for Two One by Jojo Moyes, which was accompanied by a bar of chocolate. (The perfect combination, if you ask me!)

And even though reading is something I’ve always enjoyed and I’ve never found it a daunting or difficult task, I fell in love with this book. While reading comes naturally to me, one thing I seem to be struggling with at the moment is time.

Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, click here.

Hello everyone and welcome back! How are you, my chums? Good week? Mine was pretty good – exhausting, but good. I was invited to the launch of William Giraldi’s latest crime novel, Hold the Dark, on Wednesday, which was pretty awesome. We went to Icebar in Central London, which is exactly what it sounds like – a bar. Made entirely of ice. It was an amazing experience and it was so lovely to finally meet some people from the publisher, who I’ve been chatting to online for the past few years. I’m hoping to post some pictures here on the blog so keep your eyes peeled!

It was another great week for books as well. I went a bit YA-mad in the past couple of days and ordered two books from Foyles. Because I clearly don’t have another 200 books to read… *glances at towering TBR pile* Anyway, moving swiftly on. I also got two review copies – one middle grade and one YA, which is a nice change from all those thrillers I’ve read in the past couple of months.

I absolutely love Erin Lange’s work. But, unlike every normal person, I’ve read her latest one, Dead Ends, first and haven’t had the opportunity to pick up Butter yet. Dead Ends made me completely fall in love with her style so I’m pretty sure I will adore this one as well. Stonebird is a middle-grade novel, which was a review copy from Mike and Quercus – thanks, guys! The cover is just gorgeous (the photos don’t really do it justice) and I have a feeling it’s going to be a beautiful story. Mike is actually guest posting on the blog in the near future, so watch this space!

Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, click here.

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! How are you? How was your week? Mine was pretty hectic (hence the lack of updates – again!) so I’m having a lazy weekend for a change. I pretty much spent yesterday lying in bed and catching up with TV shows, but I’m hoping to get some reading and blogging done today. In the meantime, here are the books I got this week.

After the Crash is a French crime novel, which was kindly sent to me by Orion Books. I actually don’t know too much about this one (or the author’s work) but I was intrigued by the synopsis. It’s not out until next month but I’ll keep you posted! How to Love was a gift from lovely Debbie from Snuggling on the Sofa – I’ve read mixed reviews of this one but I wanted to give it a go. I haven’t read enough contemporary novels lately so this will be perfect. Thanks so much, Debbie!

Inspired by Pop Culture Junkie and the Story Siren, the aim of Showcase Sunday is to highlight our newest books or book related swag and to see what everyone else received for review, borrowed from libraries, bought in bookshops and downloaded onto eReaders each week. For more information about how this feature works and how to join in, click here.

Hello everyone and happy Sunday! How was your week? What are your plans for the weekend – or what’s left of it? I had a pretty busy day yesterday – I took my new camera for a test ride in Greenwich (one of my favourite places around London), and it took longer than I expected. It was a lovely day, though, despite the freezing weather!

It was an amazing week book-wise, so I have lots of brilliant reads to show you today. If you’re all sitting comfortably and have your tea or coffee at hand, I’ll begin.

A few weeks ago I came home to the news that I’ve been accepted for Curtis Brown’s very own – and very new – online book club, starting this January. And, before January’s book club read landed on our doorsteps, they sent us all a lovely welcome package. Mine included the first three books on the list – The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy, The Serpent Papers and Us. I’ve heard a million great things about both the first Harold Fry book and David Nicholls’ novels, so I can’t wait to pick these up.

Link up your Showcase Sunday posts for 1 March by clicking on the image below:

Welcome to the blog!

Hello! My name is Vicky. I'm a twenty-something book blogger and social media marketing ninja with a passion for thrillers, mysteries, dystopia, and women's fiction. I started Books, Biscuits, and Tea back in 2011 as a place for me to write about some of the amazing books I read, meet other bookworms from all around the world and to give and receive book recommendations. I love our (not so) little bookish community and chatting with fellow bloggers, so feel free to send me an email or get in touch on Twitter whenever you like.
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